Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Designing My Own Plan!

Over four months ago I set out on a mission to eat healthier, lose weight and blog about it. It has been an incredible journey with many highs, few lows, plans, changes, and rewards. Before this journey started I took a week to find out why it has been a struggle for me to lose weight. So, I came up with a few reasons for my 20 year struggle:
1. I was not committed 100% to losing the weight.
2. I did not have a weight lose plan.
3. I did not have a weight lose goal.
4. I did not understand the connection between food and living a healthy life.
5. I did not understand which exercise plan was needed to lose weight.

I reviewed my struggles and decided to go deeper inside: It hit me, I needed my own weight lose and exercise plan. It was important for me to take time to research the health benefits of eating healthier and exercising. There are many diet plans that have been designed by others and geared towards their needs. It's so easy to pay someone else to plan my health goals but will it really work for me long term. No is my answer. It has been proven that "what works for you might not work for me". I realized that this is my body and I know it better than anyone out there. It was time for me to take ownership of my health and believe in it. My goal was to make my own plan and stick with it.

It was time for me to do the work so I started the research: My plan was to find the benefits of eating healthy and exercising. My focus was to learn how protein, carbs, cholesterol, sugar, fats, and salt affected the body. During my research I learn to listen to my body to find out how my body react to food. After eating I waited for my body show signs of bloating or other not so nice sounds. So I had to focused on my burping/gas action. Don't laugh but this is how your body tells you what it like or dislike. Now I eat foods that my system likes. No gas or burping on this plan.

My next goal was to educate myself on how to be active but have fun as well: During my research of different types of exercises I found that obese people must lift weights and do cardio to reduce body fat. Muscle relaxation is important as well. I had to design my exercise plan in a way that included: cardio, strength, toning, balance, and relaxation. The design needed to include exercises that would take me out of my comfort zone. My plan was to take classes that build my confidence as well as relax my mind.

The best of all is the benefits of pampering myself. This is just as important as eating healthy and exercising. I had to find ways to reward my mind and body for all the work. Pampering myself is like giving myself a paycheck but in the form of a massage or body treatment.

My advice is to come up with your own plan by listening to our body and researching the benefits of living a healthier life. Make a decision to write your own diet plan that includes good food, exercise, pampering, and goals. Planning it requires living it!

Good luck to you all!

5 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree more. We are all just so different so what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Kudoos to you for taking the time and researching what works for you! I think it's so important and that's what I have done recently. I stopped trying to follow other people and just listened to my own body! Sounds like your on your way to accomplish big results! Good Luck!

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  2. Very true. I bet we are going to see big things (or actually smaller you!) from you now. Good for you!

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  3. Great minds think alike. My post today dealt with my own start on this weight-loss journey and, like you, it involved some time getting my head straight and steeling myself for the hard road ahead. I think that's a very important component in this trek to a healthy lifestyle.

    Excellent post.

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  4. You are so organized! This is a great idea and I'm glad that it's working for you!

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